| "California Sun" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single byJoe Jones | ||||
| B-side | "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone" | |||
| Released | 1960 (1960) | |||
| Length | 2:21 | |||
| Label | Roulette (4344) | |||
| Songwriter | Henry Glover | |||
| Joe Jones singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
"California Sun" is arock song written byHenry Glover when employed byRoulette Records.[1] It has been recorded and released by various artists, the most successful by the band The Rivieras in 1963.
It was first recorded by Americanrhythm and blues singerJoe Jones. Glover is credited on the original45 rpm single as the sole songwriter, althoughRoulette Records ownerMorris Levy's name has since been added.[2] In 1961, Roulette issued the song with "Please Don't Talk About Me When I'm Gone" as the B-side. The single reached number 89 onBillboard'sHot 100.[3][4]
| "California Sun" | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Single byThe Rivieras | ||||
| from the albumLet's Have a Party | ||||
| B-side | "H.B. Goose Step" | |||
| Released | December 1963 (1963-12)[5] | |||
| Recorded | 1963 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 2:23 | |||
| Label | Riviera (R-1401) | |||
| Songwriter | Henry Glover | |||
| The Rivieras singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
The most successful was asurfer-rock version of the song released bythe Rivieras in 1963 and became the group's biggest hit in their short career. This song was the result of their first recording session at Chicago'sColumbia Recording Studios in 1963, organised by managerBill Dobslaw. The lineup for this session included Marty Fortson on vocals and rhythm guitar, Joe Pennell on lead guitar, Doug Gean on bass guitar, Otto Nuss onVox Continental organ, and Paul Dennert on drums. The original single cut from this session included the song "Played On" as the A-side, with "California Sun" as the B-side and was released on Dobslaw's Riviera label in 1963. DJ Art Roberts ensured that the "California Sun" side saw significant airplay onWLS. In response to the growing success, Dobslaw got the band a national distribution deal withUSA Records, and the song was adequately distributed with "H.B. Goose Step" as the B-side.[6]
The song entered the charts on January 25, 1964, peaking at number five on the USBillboard Hot 100 chart. It remained on the charts for 10 weeks.[7] The song was further hailed as the last American rock and roll hit before theBritish Invasion. Shortly after the song's release, the band experienced internal problems as Fortson and Pennell enlisted in the Marines, in addition to various lineup changes afterwards. A re-recording of the song with new lyrics, titled "Arizona Sun" was recorded in 1964, but not released until 2000 on the compilationLet's Stomp with The Rivieras! Unissued 1964 Recordings. "California Sun" was eventually featured on the band's debut albumLet's Have a Party. A later version was released later that year as "California Sun '65" on their second and final album,Campus Party.[6]
The Rivieras version was used in the 1987 movieGood Morning, Vietnam, as well as on its soundtrack album.[8] It was also featured in the 1991 biopicThe Doors.[9] It was one of many California-related songs played throughout "Sunshine Plaza" in the originalDisney California Adventure.[10]
| Chart (1964) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Canada (CHUMHit Parade)[11] | 3 |
| Germany[12] | 15 |
| New Zealand (Lever Hit Parade)[13] | 6 |
| U.S.Billboard Hot 100[7] | 5 |
| "California Sun" | |
|---|---|
| Song byRamones | |
| from the albumLeave Home | |
| A-side | "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend" |
| Released | January 1977 |
| Recorded | October 1976 |
| Genre | Punk rock |
| Length | 1:58 |
| Label | Sire |
| Songwriter | Henry Glover |
| Producers | Tony Bongiovi,Tommy Ramone |
The Ramones first used a live-version of the song as b-side to theirI Wanna Be Your Boyfriend single released in 1976.[14] A studio version of the song was recorded by the for their 1977Leave Home album.[14] It was also used in their 1979Rock 'n' Roll High School motion picture and the live-albumIt's Alive.[15] This version is on variouscompilations, includingAll the Stuff (And More!) Volume 1 andHey Ho! Let's Go: The Anthology.
The Ramones cover was also used inJackass: The Movie (and on the soundtrack album) and inThe X-Filesseason 11 episodeThis.
